Mrs. Vani Kola

Managing Director, Kalaari Capital

Ms. Vani Kola is the Managing Director, Director, and Partner of Kalaari Capital, an Indian venture capitalist firm. Ms. Kola is the Co-founder of the firm. Her commitment to the Indian world of entrepreneurship is heightened with the fact that she returned to Bangalore in the year 2006 from Silicon Valley to be a part of the emerging start up model in India.

Vani’s initial investment as a founder was made in the year 2001 after she founded Certus Software, Inc. and served as the Chief Executive Officer until August 2005. Post this, she focused on developing her career as a venture capitalist, and launched IndoUS Capital Advisors in 2006.  She is also actively professionally involved in different organizations to foster entrepreneurship and women leadership. She is a pioneer in India’s venture capital industry.

Since then, she has enabled more than 35 companies by investing in them as a VC. Some of the prominent names associated with Vani includes, HushBabies, Urban Ladderm, Zivame, TripHobo Social Network, LLP, Descasa Home Decor Online Pvt. Ltd., Indiaplaza (India) Pvt. Ltd., Induslynk Training Services Private Limited, VIA, Mettl, Onward Mobility Solution Pvt. Ltd., Jasper Infotech Pvt. Ltd., BEBB India Private Limited, actoserba active retail Private Limited, Myntra, and MedPlus Health Services.

Also, with an experience of spending 22 years in the US, Vani is deeply focused on building successful software companies.  She holds an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Arizona State University and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Osmania University in India.